WORKERS' CLAIMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 216, 11 September 1940, Page 15

WORKERS' CLAIMS.

ALLEGED AWARD BREACHES. COUNCIL AS DEFENDANT. WAIHI, this day. ' The hearing of claims of much interest to local authorities and industrial unions, involving the question of payment oif increased rates to men employed on work alleged to be covered by another award, was opened in the Magistrate's Court to-day before Mr. W. H. Freeman, S.M. Breaches of the Northern Industrial District (except the Auckland 10-mile radius) Box-ough Councils' Award, was alleged by the Auckland Builders, General and other Labourers' Industrial Union of Workers, on the part of the Mayor, councillors and burgesses of the borough of Waihi, in that they had failed to pay G. Hawthorn, J. Geddins, J. Dowse, H. Bush and J. Curtis, the rate covered by another award, the total amount claimed as penalty being £25. Separate claims, in all amounting to £131 19/7, were made by the abovenamed employees, "being the difference paid by defendants and the rates payable under the New Zealand Stone Masons' Award—2/4 and 2/5 per hour instead of 2/10} per hour. It was claimed by plaintiffs, who were employed by the Waihi Borough Council under Scheme 13, that for some time they were engaged in the construction of a stone wall and rock embankment, for which they were entitled to rates payable to stone masons.

Plaintiffs were represented by Mr. F. H. Haigli, Mr.-F. C. V. Clark appearing for tlie defendant council.